North Carolina State University Athletics
CARR: Pack Coach Leaps Into Hall of Fame
5/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track
By A.J. CARR
It happened 15 years ago, but Chris Coleman still vividly remembers the scary scenario.
Favored in the triple jump at the 1995 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships, St. Augustine’s All-America was stuck in second place with one attempt left to fly or flop, win or weep.
“I was ranked pretty high, maybe over-confident, thinking winning that event would be easy,” recalled Coleman, who “ really had to re-focus” before his last leap.
With suspense swirling to a crescendo, Coleman took off and covered 53-feet, 7-inches to set a personal record and catapult into first place. It’s what champions do under pressure and why that triumph is the most treasured of his three national titles in the triple jump.
Now, at age 36 and an assistant track coach at NC State, Coleman is about to make another big jump -- into the Division II Track & Field Hall of Fame.
“I don’t think it has quite hit me yet; maybe after the ceremony it will,” said Coleman, who will be honored at a May 26 banquet in Charlotte.
Flourishing in the long and triple jumps under legendary coach George Williams at St. Augustine’s, Coleman became one of the program’s most decorated athletes with 14 All-America awards in addition to his three NCAA titles.
As a young boy growing up in Fuquay, he couldn’t imagine such success.
“I was not the fastest or most athletic in my neighborhood, not at all,’’ said Coleman, but later discovered he possessed two key ingredients for jumping -- coordination and power.
Fuquay coach Edward Townes saw potential in the 5-8, 165-pound kid and put him in jumping events. Coleman responded by winning two state titles.
To honor his late mentor, Coleman, who founded and directs the Carolina All-Stars Youth Track & Field program at Fuquay, gives an Edward Townes Coaching Award each summer.
“He was one of the greatest inspirations,” Coleman said. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
PASS IT ON
After earning an accounting degree at St. Aug’s, Coleman worked as an assistant track coach at his alma mater two seasons, spent two more years at Fuquay High and launched his youth track program. In 2006 he joined State’s staff.
Now 14 years older and about 40 pounds heavier (205) than in his college heyday, he confessed to getting hurt a few times trying to demonstrate jumping skills to Pack athletes.
But he is adamant about proper technique and discipline -- on and off the track --and has gotten results.
Among his successful performers are former standouts such as All-American Dexter Adams (2008) and DeMiracle Washington (2008), both of whom were ACC champions.
“Most rewarding is helping athletes achieve their goal,’’ Coleman said.
To do that sometimes requires breaking down barriers. For example, Adams said he wasn’t immediately receptive to Coleman’s coaching methods.
“At first I was real stubborn and bitter about the last coach leaving,’’ Adams said. “Initially...I thought [Coleman] was harsh. Yet he was so adamant about what he believed in. He was able to get my attention.
“What he does better than anything is reel you in mentally, help strengthen the athlete mentally as well as physically.”
On the track, in the weight room and in the class room, Coleman expects the best from the Pack. That means using clean language as well as making clean jumps. Profanity draws a penalty in pushups.
“He does not baby athletes,’’ said DeMiracle Washington. “He makes sure you are not only successful on the track, but also academically. He has a great personality, gives you wonderful advice and his faith shows.”
Thanks to parents -- George and Velma --, Coleman grew up in a “real good” home. He did his school work, participated in sports and went to church on Sunday. Those interests and values instilled in the formative years remain.
While coaching can be all consuming, Coleman carves time for wife Tameika and daughters Takira and Jordyn, who run in their dad’s Youth Track program.
His other burgeoning interest is photography, which partly explains why he’s often seen carrying a camera.
“I’ve always liked pictures and recently got equipment,’’ Coleman said with fervor. “I’m trying to build a portfolio. I want that to be a side job.”
But his primary job is to keep the Pack track athletes jumping. If they leap like their Hall-of -Fame coach once did, they can be winners.
It happened 15 years ago, but Chris Coleman still vividly remembers the scary scenario.
Favored in the triple jump at the 1995 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships, St. Augustine’s All-America was stuck in second place with one attempt left to fly or flop, win or weep.
“I was ranked pretty high, maybe over-confident, thinking winning that event would be easy,” recalled Coleman, who “ really had to re-focus” before his last leap.
With suspense swirling to a crescendo, Coleman took off and covered 53-feet, 7-inches to set a personal record and catapult into first place. It’s what champions do under pressure and why that triumph is the most treasured of his three national titles in the triple jump.
Now, at age 36 and an assistant track coach at NC State, Coleman is about to make another big jump -- into the Division II Track & Field Hall of Fame.
“I don’t think it has quite hit me yet; maybe after the ceremony it will,” said Coleman, who will be honored at a May 26 banquet in Charlotte.
Flourishing in the long and triple jumps under legendary coach George Williams at St. Augustine’s, Coleman became one of the program’s most decorated athletes with 14 All-America awards in addition to his three NCAA titles.
As a young boy growing up in Fuquay, he couldn’t imagine such success.
“I was not the fastest or most athletic in my neighborhood, not at all,’’ said Coleman, but later discovered he possessed two key ingredients for jumping -- coordination and power.
Fuquay coach Edward Townes saw potential in the 5-8, 165-pound kid and put him in jumping events. Coleman responded by winning two state titles.
To honor his late mentor, Coleman, who founded and directs the Carolina All-Stars Youth Track & Field program at Fuquay, gives an Edward Townes Coaching Award each summer.
“He was one of the greatest inspirations,” Coleman said. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
PASS IT ON
After earning an accounting degree at St. Aug’s, Coleman worked as an assistant track coach at his alma mater two seasons, spent two more years at Fuquay High and launched his youth track program. In 2006 he joined State’s staff.
Now 14 years older and about 40 pounds heavier (205) than in his college heyday, he confessed to getting hurt a few times trying to demonstrate jumping skills to Pack athletes.
But he is adamant about proper technique and discipline -- on and off the track --and has gotten results.
Among his successful performers are former standouts such as All-American Dexter Adams (2008) and DeMiracle Washington (2008), both of whom were ACC champions.
“Most rewarding is helping athletes achieve their goal,’’ Coleman said.
To do that sometimes requires breaking down barriers. For example, Adams said he wasn’t immediately receptive to Coleman’s coaching methods.
“At first I was real stubborn and bitter about the last coach leaving,’’ Adams said. “Initially...I thought [Coleman] was harsh. Yet he was so adamant about what he believed in. He was able to get my attention.
“What he does better than anything is reel you in mentally, help strengthen the athlete mentally as well as physically.”
On the track, in the weight room and in the class room, Coleman expects the best from the Pack. That means using clean language as well as making clean jumps. Profanity draws a penalty in pushups.
“He does not baby athletes,’’ said DeMiracle Washington. “He makes sure you are not only successful on the track, but also academically. He has a great personality, gives you wonderful advice and his faith shows.”
Thanks to parents -- George and Velma --, Coleman grew up in a “real good” home. He did his school work, participated in sports and went to church on Sunday. Those interests and values instilled in the formative years remain.
While coaching can be all consuming, Coleman carves time for wife Tameika and daughters Takira and Jordyn, who run in their dad’s Youth Track program.
His other burgeoning interest is photography, which partly explains why he’s often seen carrying a camera.
“I’ve always liked pictures and recently got equipment,’’ Coleman said with fervor. “I’m trying to build a portfolio. I want that to be a side job.”
But his primary job is to keep the Pack track athletes jumping. If they leap like their Hall-of -Fame coach once did, they can be winners.
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